Extensible electrical fixture



R. E. SHAW.

EXTENSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIXTURE.

APPLICATION HLED JULYZE. 191B.

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R. E. SHAW. EXTENSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIXTURE.

APPLICATION FILED JU LYZS, I918.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EXTENSIBLE ELECTRICAL FIXTURE.

Specification of Letters Ilatent.

Patented Aug. 3, 1920.

Application filed July 26, 1918. Serial No. 246,864.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROY E. v zen of the United States, residing at S earfish, in the county of Lawrence and tate of South Dakota, have invented certain new .Snaw, a citiand useful Improvements in Extensible i the invention is to provide a bracket employing novel contact means whereby the current can be supplied to the conductors 1rres ective of the positioning of the same.

ther objects will'be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

In order that the invention and the manner of its application may be readily understood by those skilled in the art, I have 1n the accompanying illustrative drawings and in the following description based thereon set forth a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings: v

Figure 1 is a vertical section through the housing of the bracket showing said bracket in elevation,

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section therethrough,

Fig. 3 1s a vertical transverse section through the bracket,

Fi 4 is a fragmentary detail in section through the contact bearin for the reel, and

Fi 5 is a fragmentary etail in elevation of said bearing.

Having more particular reference to the drawings in connection with which like reference characters will designate correspondingiparts throughout the several views, 1 represents the bracket, which as'will be noted is formed substantiall U-shaped and has divergent side pieces, t e-i'ntermediate portions of which are. engaged by cross ieces 2 having bearing openings formed therein for receiving the opposite extremi ties of thereel axle, while t e o posite ends of the bracket are extended and ooked as at 3, for a purpose which will be subsequently is to described. The extended ends of the bracket 1 are apertured and receive suitable fastening devices 4 therethrough for an obvious purpose.

Rotatably supported in the bearing ieces 2 of the bracket is a reel 5, the same eing provided with a hollow axle 6, the outer ends of which are pointed and are adapted to be engaged by conical contact members 7 carried on the outer ends of spring arms 8 which arms, as will be noted, are secured to portions of the cross pieces 2 in an, effectual manner. To insulate the contact members 7 from the spring arms 8, pieces of insulation 9 are interposed between the same and the ad'acent portions of said spring arms, there y insuring proper functioning of the device.

Engaged at one end with the axle 6 is a coil spring 10, the remaining end thereof being connected to a pin or like projection 11 carried on one side of the reel 5; said spring, obviously, serving as means for placing the reel 5 under tension when rotated in one'direction and as a consequence, returning the same to its normal position subsequent to the releasing thereof. Pivotally mounted upon an apertured lug 12 formed on one side of the bracket 1 is a pawl 13, the under side of which is engaged by a spring element 14 and as a consequence is normally maintained in engagement with the periphery'of the adjacent circular end of the reel 5, said end being formed with series of ratchet teeth 15. A cord 16 or like connection is engaged at one end with the pawl 13 and extends downwardly for a distance below the same in order that the pawl may be disengaged from the ratchet teeth when it is desired to allow free rotation of the reel 5.

The ends of the electrical conductors 17 are arranged on the reel 5 and connected to the axle by means of branch conductors 19, which conductors are in the form of wires running from 17 to the oint 7 through the center of the axle thus the axle will serve as an insulation for these conductors 19 through the coil. spring 10 and also the hearing pieces 2 in the bracket. A casing or housing 20 is provided for the device and has the marginal portion thereof formed with a rolled flange 21'adapted to be snapped into engagement with the hooked outer ends of the elnlfls of the bracket 1, while an openin ed in the lower portion thereof an is provided with a suitable sleeve 22 Whereby the conductors 17 can be passed there through and engaged with a lamp or other electrical fixture, not shown.

From the foregoing, it will be readily understood that with my improved extension bracket, I am enabled to move an electrical device connected thereto to any desired point merely by withdrawing the cable 17 rom the housing 20 and as a consequence uncoiling the same from the reel 5. Such uncoiling of the conductors will of course impart rotary motion to the reel 5 and thus place the same under the tension of the coil spring 10. Undue reverse rotation of the reel 5 is prevented by the engagement of the pivoted pawl 13 with the ratchet teeth 15 formed on one end of the same. However, to permit rewinding or coiling of the conductors 17 about the reel it is only necessary to pull downwardly upon the connection 16 thereby causing the pivotal pawl to be disengaged from the ratchet 15, where upon the spring 10 will serve to return said reel to its .normal position. The engagement of the contact members 7 with the outer ends of the axle 6 is such as to permit a constant flow of current through the same and into the conductors 17 by way of the wire conductors 19; said contacts 7 being of tions or preference may dictate.

Manifestly, the construction shown is capable of considerable modification and such modification as is within the scope of my claims, I consider within the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

A device of the character described comprising a bracket, resilient strips carried by the bracket, insulating blocks carried by the strips, conical contact members carried by the blocks, a reel having an insulating axle provided with pointed terminals seated in the contact members, conductors having electrical connection with the contact members, and conductors wound upon the reel and extended through the axle into contact with the contact members to establish an electrical connection therewith.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature hereto.

ROY E. SHAW. 

